Jaded No More

Round 1 of the NAB Cup... could there be a more meaningless game? All of our older players, or anyone who has been on a modified program throughout the summer should be rested for this one. If we progress, and as we approach the season, more and more players will start to get a game just to get them prepared for the real deal. If all goes well, everyone but Wheels and Bartram should get at least one game under their belt between now and Round 1. I can't think of one team that is fielding a full-strength side this week. It's just not logical.

"Dunbar replaces Barry Prendergast as Innovations Coach after Prendergast was appointed to the role of Recruiting Manager at the Demons."

I would say that, in doubt for Round 1 are: Bartram, Whelan, Bruce, Wheatley and maybe Rivers and Petterd I think Bartram and Whelan will both be lucky to sneak in a few games in 2008, as it really doesn't look great for them. On the other hand, for Moloney, Sylvia and Brock to have done a large chuck of the pre-season (Brock's injury seems minor) is absolutely fantastic! I wouldn't worry too much about that. A lot of players were rested or not risked. If anyone has a niggle at this time of year, and many do after a full pre-season, you would not risk them in a practice match (which from all reports was pretty rough and tough). That does not mean that the players who did not play are not fit, it simply means that they are too high risk. Certainly I wouldn't want Neita to have a training injury like Bartram had last year and still has not recovered from.

You can get plain scarves from the Demon Shop for $10.

Hey, don't discriminate against us young cynics I must say I've lost my patience with Yze, but I'd be thrilled if DB manages to change him. There are not many players more talented than Yze,and if his skills are applied in the right way than we'll be a much better team next year. He could easily kick 40+ goals from the pocket in 2008.

I am willing to wager money that we will not finish last.

The same figure has been up on the website for well over 2 weeks now. I'm sure it has increased in that time, but they haven't bothered updating it.

Just on Ch. 7- Breaking News: Harris is going to get the sack either tonight or tomorrow. The two main reasons being the poor overall profits from last year, and the 70% staff turnover. Possible replacements: - Cameron Schwab - A possible first in football, a woman to take over the job, most likely one that is already on the board at the club.

Will wait for confirmation as well, however 4-6 weeks is hardly disastrous if true. Sure it will put him behind the eight-ball in terms of fitness preparation, but a round 2 or 3 or 4 return is hardly going to change the course of our season. He has always been very fit, so no doubt he'll be able to make up for lost time quickly. Just as long as he didn't injure his kicking knee, because god knows he doesn't need any more reasons to fluff them kicks

Speaking of Geelong, I read in the paper that Scarlet won't be playing in the NAB Cup against us either, as he's had some sort of knee operation. Juice to kick 15 :D

Excellent thanks. Gotta remember to ring Foxtel and change over to the Sports Package, which is the biggest ripoff package of them all. Bring back the Footy Channel I say! <_<

Dean Bailey wants to move Bell to the midfield!! WOO HOO, I have been advocating this move for years and finally we have a coach who agrees :D Oh hang on, there was other stuff written in the article?... oh right, well if the club feels that there is a better person for the CEO position than Harris, and if they think that last year's financial results were largely his fault, than of course they have to make some positional changes. There have been a lot of movements at the club over the last 6 months, what's one more?

Does anybody know if our NAB game against Geelong will be televised (Free or Foxtel)? I would love to see the game but unfortunately I have to be at work that day. I'm hoping I could tape it and watch it later, but I can't find any information on broadcasting.

The most interesting thing about the article IMO is that the players were made to cast their votes in front of the whole team. It certainly eliminates any favoritisms that may have happened with a closed ballot. From an outsiders point of view Green is definitely a deserving leader, but if this experience helps him to get better, than I'm all for it. He certainly won't lose any credit from supporters who understand his character and respect the way he goes about his footy. He'll be back in the leadership group by next year, without a doubt.

Well now you stole my thunder... Forward is where he should play. Far too unaccountable to play down back and not good enough to play in the midfield anymore (too much competition for spots as well). We need small forwards who can apply pressure on defenders. If Yze can learn to do that, he'll be a very dangerous and important player for us. But then we've been waiting to see him learn for so long... maybe Bailey can bring that change in him.

It's just a media cover-up. He was suspended for a reason, and he's lucky the suspension is relatively mild. Hopefully he'll learn from his mistakes, but I wouldn't hold my breath.

I disagree. Someone like Carroll really needs the pre-season to prove himself again. This way, he misses the first two matches in which Frawley and maybe even Garland take over his position. If they perform well, they're half way to taking his spot in Round 1. He is far from safe in our backline, basically he is in our best 22 out of necessity moreso than ability. This combined with his off field behaviour means that Carroll has to really fight for his position in 2008. Missing the pre-season will seriously damage his standings going into the season.

Exactly, it means that he has to abide by the rules that he sets. It puts a lot more pressure on him to behave by the standards that he creates as a leader and as a consequence, if he steps out of these boundries his punishment should, and will be, more severe as a result.

Nathan Carroll needs to seriously pull his head in. There are too many unsightly stories floating around in regards to this guy and it does nothing for our club's reputation... or his. Very glad the leadership group decided to suspend him. Hopefully it'll be a lesson to him and every other player at the club.

Lets get something clear. I do not think he is up to senior footy atm. But I think that if anyone can change their fortune around through sheer hard work, Miller can. He has a lot of work to do and he knows that. But it speaks volumes of his leadership traits and the respect he has at the club, that even though he's struggling on the field, he was still chosen to lead the club. That's a great testament to him.

A big part of being a leader, is setting a good example off the field. There is no doubt that Miller needs to step up big time and start performing on the field, but you just cannot fault his character. Even when he is struggling, he is always in there trying and he is always positive. I have to say that I really do admire his positive outlook and the way he carries himself. He really did come from nowhere, picked very late in the draft, and it is a credit to him that his teammates see him as a leader even though he has struggled for a position. Why can't we just concede that he has a lot of good points, and wait and see if he can start improving on the field? Why always take the negative route? I know we're Melbourne supporters and it's ingrained in us to be pessimistic, but it really is getting boring.

That's a reasonable summary. But people are fickle... if he plays well this year, 98% of people will all of sudden love Miller and claim that they supported him all along. For someone relatively young, he has an incredibly stable head on his shoulders. He is mature and grounded beyond his years and he really does lead by example off the field. Hopefully this translates to on field success soon. I just hope that we don't have fifty threads between now and the end of the year bashing Miller, because man did that get boring quickly!

There's speeding, then there is 70km OVER the speed limit. And what the hell is a 'safe road'? Do other people not drive on that road? What I think some people fail to understand is the danger of what Johnson did. He can drink and take drugs as much as he wants, and not harm anyone but himself. If he had got into a fatal car accident, he would have most definitely killed himself and the people in other vehicle. But hey, it was a safe road and everyone speeds... My biggest issue is the incosistency. How can you punish a bloke for being drunk in public, and not for endangering countless lives? What, is one a bigger problem than the other? Does it only matter what a player does if it affects his playing or if it reflects badly on the club? Does dying or killing another person not do both those things? It all comes down to football clubs protecting their own arse. They don't really care about the players, they just care about their image and their success.

So you think that getting an indefinite suspension for being drunk in public is reasonable, but no suspension for driving at speeds that would certainly kill any other travelers on the road, is ok? Being drunk in public is not a great endorsement for the club, but Johnson was only harming himself. How many fatal road accidents do we have a year as a result of idiots speeding? What he did this time was far worse and far more dangerous. Anybody who has lost a friend or relative in a car crash would certainly agree. He put himself, his teammate and countless other people in danger. He deserves a punishment for that, and having his license suspended is a very small price to pay. If he had killed someone he'd be sitting in jail right about now! Given that Geelong are long term partners of a motor vehicle company, I can't see how the club doesn't take this incident more seriously. But then again, if you're a good player you're immune from all punishment

Haha. Disturbing! For anyone who is interested in buying a new scarf for next year, the club is selling a members only 2008 scarf for $25, or you can pick up a non-year specific scarf for like $10 from the Melbourne Shop. And because I'm so nice, I'll even provide you with the relevant links: 2008 Scarf Other Scarves Remember kids, shop at the Melbourne store so that all the money goes to our club! And after all that, if they don't offer me a job, they are just foolish :D